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4 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore and What They Could Mean

Key Points

  • The article discusses four serious health symptoms that should not be ignored: severe chest pain, abnormal bowel movement, severe headache, and high fever.
  • Severe chest pain, especially if accompanied by aching in the jaw, shoulders, and arms, could be a sign of a heart attack or heart disease.
  • Abnormal bowel movements, specifically black or bright red in color, could indicate bleeding in the intestinal tract and should be checked by a medical professional.
  • A sudden, severe headache, particularly in those not prone to such, could be a sign of a stroke, blood clot, or tumor, especially if accompanied by dizziness or a sudden change in mental processing.
  • High fever, especially in infants and toddlers, can be dangerous as it usually indicates the body is fighting off an infection, and in adults, it could point to a severe internal or external infection.

In the age of self-diagnosis and Web MD, it's tempting to treat symptoms as if you absolutely know the cause. However, there are many cases when a symptom could point to a serious problem that may require urgent care. There are several warning signs that you should never second guess. Read on for four symptoms you should never ignore and what they may mean for your health.

4 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore and What They Could Mean

Key Points

  • The article discusses four serious health symptoms that should not be ignored: severe chest pain, abnormal bowel movement, severe headache, and high fever.
  • Severe chest pain, especially if accompanied by aching in the jaw, shoulders, and arms, could be a sign of a heart attack or heart disease.
  • Abnormal bowel movements, specifically black or bright red in color, could indicate bleeding in the intestinal tract and should be checked by a medical professional.
  • A sudden, severe headache, particularly in those not prone to such, could be a sign of a stroke, blood clot, or tumor, especially if accompanied by dizziness or a sudden change in mental processing.
  • High fever, especially in infants and toddlers, can be dangerous as it usually indicates the body is fighting off an infection, and in adults, it could point to a severe internal or external infection.

In the age of self-diagnosis and Web MD, it's tempting to treat symptoms as if you absolutely know the cause. However, there are many cases when a symptom could point to a serious problem that may require urgent care. There are several warning signs that you should never second guess. Read on for four symptoms you should never ignore and what they may mean for your health.

1. Severe Chest Pain

Mild chest pain could be caused by trapped gas or even heart burn, both of which are harmless conditions that you can treated at home. While chest pain alone isn't always a symptom of something grave, such as a heart attack, when paired with other symptoms it's a cause for concern.

When to Worry: Severe chest pain would feel debilitating in the moment. It may cause you to grip your chest or fall to your knees. If the chest pain comes with aching in your jaw, shoulders, and arms, it is possible that you are experiencing a heart attack. If you experience moderate chest pain over time, consider this a possible symptom of heart disease and seek a doctor's advice on proper management – including diet and exercise.

2. Abnormal Bowel Movement

An abnormal bowel movement generally has an unusual color or consistency. There are times when certain foods, such as beets, or allergies could cause a temporary change in bowel movements. Additionally, Mayo Clinic notes, "Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition." However, there are a few red flags to look for.

When to Worry: According to Mayo Clinic, there are two troublesome colors that are cause for concern: black and bright red. Either could indicate bleeding in certain parts of the intestinal track. If you experience an abnormal bowel movement more than several times and after 24 hours (eliminating any possible diet-related changes), find urgent care in your area and seek medical attention.

3. Severe Headache

Frequent migraine suffers excluded, a sudden and severe head ache is a symptom you should never ignore. Like chest pain, a severe headache, accompanied by other symptoms, could be grave. A concerning and severe headache would also feel incapacitating.  

When to Worry: Again, if you aren't prone to severe headaches, this is a symptom you should absolutely pay attention to. Harvard Medical School reports, "[…] if your headache is severe or unusual, you might worry about stroke, a tumor, or a blood clot." Other indications of a possible stroke, blood clot, or tumor could be dizziness accompanied by a sudden change in thinking or ability to mentally process.

4. High Fever

A high fever alone or even with a common cold shouldn't be taken lightly. A high fever is almost always a sign that your body is fighting off an infection. While the symptom itself isn't deadly, the health issues that cause it might be.

When to Worry: High fevers are especially dangerous for infants and toddlers. Web MD states, "High fever can cause seizures in young children." For adults, high fever can point to a severe internal or external infection. For example, a wound with redness, accompanied by a severe fever could be septic.

Have you experienced one or more of the symptoms on this list? What was the result? Did you seek medical care? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Frequently asked questions

  • What are some serious health symptoms that should not be ignored?

    Severe chest pain, abnormal bowel movement, severe headache, and high fever are all serious health symptoms that should not be ignored.
  • When should I worry about severe chest pain?

    You should worry about severe chest pain if it feels debilitating, causing you to grip your chest or fall to your knees. If it comes with aching in your jaw, shoulders, and arms, it is possible that you are experiencing a heart attack. Moderate chest pain over time could be a symptom of heart disease.
  • What does an abnormal bowel movement indicate?

    An abnormal bowel movement generally has an unusual color or consistency. According to Mayo Clinic, two troublesome colors that are cause for concern are black and bright red. Either could indicate bleeding in certain parts of the intestinal track.
  • When should I seek medical attention for an abnormal bowel movement?

    If you experience an abnormal bowel movement more than several times and after 24 hours, you should seek medical attention. This eliminates any possible diet-related changes.
  • What could a severe headache indicate?

    A severe headache could indicate a stroke, a tumor, or a blood clot, especially if it is accompanied by dizziness and a sudden change in thinking or ability to mentally process.
  • What does a high fever indicate?

    A high fever is almost always a sign that your body is fighting off an infection. While the symptom itself isn't deadly, the health issues that cause it might be.
  • When should I worry about a high fever?

    High fevers are especially dangerous for infants and toddlers as they can cause seizures. For adults, a high fever can point to a severe internal or external infection. For example, a wound with redness, accompanied by a severe fever could be septic.
  • What should I do if I experience one or more of these symptoms?

    If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should seek medical care immediately. It's important not to second guess these warning signs as they could point to a serious health problem.

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